A New and Improved Mammogram? (It's 3D--With Less Radiation!)

This new mammogram uses 3D technology to capture images that are two to three times sharper than those of typical CT scanner. And, because they're so high quality, the new imagines could help detect tumors much earlier and more accurately.

Usually, dual-view digital mammograms are the norm: "While commonly used, the limitation is that it provides only two images of the breast tissue, which can explain why 10 to 20 percent of breast tumors are not detectable on mammograms," says Jianwei (John) Miao, a UCLA professor of physics and astronomy and researcher with the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA.

These new 3D mammograms show even tiny details on breast tumors--which likely means fewer callbacks to women with suspicious-looking tissue--and they use a lower dose of radiation, which experts say is important when preventing damage to delicate tissue.

The 3D mammograms may take about 30 seconds longer to perform and are likely to be more expensive.

Still, science... is rad. What do you think? Would you try one of these new mammograms?